PS 3525 


.P62 


F7 


1921 




Copy 


1 



A 

FREE 

UNION 



A Comedy of 
'*FREE LOVE" 



A FREE UNION 



A FREE UNION 

A ONE ACT COMEDY 
OF "FREE LOVE'' 



By 
MARY MARCY 



CHICAGO 

CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY 

1921 






Copyright 1921 
Bv Charles H. Kerr & Compaxy 



All Rights Reserved 



,80 



m 20 \^c\ 

©CLA611735 



<p 



TO 

MY SISTER 
INEZ STEPHENS 



CHARACTEES 

Ja^tes K. Humboldt, au impecunious 
painter. 

SoNiA Baeoavski, a ''free woman". 

Owen Heddon, a poet. 

Jeak Ward, fiancee of Humboldt. 



A FREE UNION 

A ONE ACT COMEDY 
OF 'a^^REE LOVE". 

Time: Present. Scene: a combined 
s/udio and living room in Chicago. 

About the room are scattered half 
finished drawings and paintings, an easel, 
hook case, library table, a coiich, mirror, 
hat rack and chairs. A ivindov) to the rear 
leads out upon a small balcony. Over the 
window hangs a motto which reads: 
Personal Liberty 

IS God 
OF THIS Shrine. 

A picture of an explosive-looking youth 
with flying hair and wild eyes, hangs over 
the book case, bearing the inscription: ^' A 
martyr to the ignorance of Anthony Gom- 
stooh'\ A n)om.a,n\9 hat hangs on the wall. 



8 A FREE UNION 

A box of collars and cigarette case lie on 
top of the hook case. The table is littered 
ivith glasses, beer and wine bottles. 
(Enter Humboldt, at right, in shirt sleeves. 
His face is covered with lather and he 
carries a razor in his hand. Goes to mirror 
by windoiv ivhere light is best for shaving) 

Humboldt : 
(shaving) 
Watch that the coffee don't boil over; 
will Tou, Sonia? Juvst a few minutes. 

SoNiA : 

(outside) 

Yes. Did you put on the toast? 

(enters clad in house jacket, skirt and 

slippers. Clears aivay empty bottles, beer 

and tvine glasses which litter the table) 

Humboldt : 

(shaving) 

Yes, and TVe made my half of the bed. 



A FKEE UNION 9 

SONIA : 

Your half? I'd be ashamed. I never 
saw anybody so afraid of a little house- 
work as you are. Big people are not above 
doing the little things. 

Humboldt : 
'^Of course ; but you want me to do them 
all. T don't think a ''free" man ought to 
expect a woman to earn the money, but I 
do think she ought to do half the joint 
work, and that's something you have never 
done. 

SoNiA : 
Didn't I sweep yesterday! And iron 
your silk shirt? 

Humboldt : 
It was the first time. You washed half 
a dozen for Owen and had time to do a 
little mending for him too, before you went 
to the concert together; didn^t you? 



10 A FREE UNION 

SONIA : 

(Picking up odds and ends) 
There yon go again. Jealons! Yon do 
not want me to Iiave any friends or go any- 
wliere without yon. Yon are so illogical ! 
\Yliy don't yon admit that yon^re just an 
ordinary mai] who believes that woman's 
place is the home and who wants to keep 
lier there if 



I'm not. 



Humboldt : 
Sonia: 



(), yes yon are. 

Humboldt : 
There! The coffee's boiling over. 

(Rushes out) (outside) 
Why didn't yon watch it? 

SoKiA : 
I'm not yonr wife, nor your servant, and 
1 don't propose to act like them. It's your 



A FREE UNION 11 

place to watch the coffee just as much as it 
is mine. 

(Sets cups and saucers, plates and fruit on 
table) 

SoNiA : 

Why should women do the housework, 
and tlie cooking and the sewing? Just be- 
cause they have permitted themselves to 
be made slaves in the past? 

Humboldt : 
(outside) 
Slaves? Ha! Ha! That's good. Goon. 

SONIA : 

It's true. But I'm a free woman and I 
propose to remain one. Let the men do 
the cooking and the sweeping and the bak- 
ing for awhile. Women could do the big 
things far better than you men have ever 
done them. 



12 A FREE UNION 

(Enter Humholdt hearing tray with coffee 

pot, cream, sugar and toast. Sets them on 

table) 

Humboldt : 
Then you might try earning tlie money 
tliat pays for the bacon. 

SoNiA : 
(Arranging things on table) 
(Scornfully) 
Husband! you pitiful creature! Be- 
fore I'd mention money. Typical man 
trick, 

(mimicking him ) 
I pay the bills! I earn the money! 
I —I— I! And so you think you ought to 
lord it over the women. 

Humboldt : 
(has arranged his tie before mirror) 

(turns around) 
Lord, no ! I don't want to be anything— 



A FEEE UNION 13 

except ahsemt. Sonia, you don't know how 
sick I am of this so-^called '' freedom' ^ 
Free as air I am, I suppose? Not! Free 
to eara the money, when I am not free to 
be cooking for your friends ; free to go to 
bed if they don't decide to talk all night; 
free to get up— when you are ready to get 
up— at one or two o'clock; free to wash 
dishes and entertain your friends, and free 
to pray for a cbance to get at my work. 
Free to work for you— when you give me 
the opportunity. Free! Free! Free! 
Ha ! Ha ! You make me laugh. 
(stops shortly) 
Humboldt : 
Wliat! Only tivo plates and two cups 
and saucers! And I made tea, too. Am 
I to have the pleasure of your society alone 
this morning— afternoon rather? AVhere's 
Owen? 

SoNiA : 

He had an appointment with the dentist. 



14 A FREE UNION 

(pours coffee) 

Humboldt : 
(sitting down) 
Wliat an unexpected pleasure to break- 
fast tete-a-tete with yon. This is the first 
time in two months when Owen hasn't 
dropped in, quite by aceident, of course, 
along about two o'clock to have breakfast 
with us. We will not need to have break- 
fast food this morning. And Owen's grape 
fruit— Ah, well, cheer up. He may happen 
along later. 

(eats fruit) 

SONIA : 

Shame! Shame! I can't believe you 
intend to be so small as to begrudge a 
seat at our table to a guest like Owen! 

Humboldt : 
Ha! Ha! A guest? That's rich! A 
guest! My dear, Owen is a hoarder, a 
regular, non-piaying boarder. You know 



A FREE UNION 15 

perfectly well we have oatmeal and cream 
eveiy morning, especially for Owen, and 
grape fruit or berries, and bacon, and tea— 
Owen }mist have his tea, you know— all 
for little Owen. And how long is it since 
we have had dinner in the flat without 
Owen? It must be four months at least. 

Sonia: 
you petty-minded thing, you! To 
think such things. Real men, men who be- 
lieve in individual freedom, do not stoop 
so low. Owen is a poet, an artist, a 
dreamer and a genius! He would not 
think of such things. If he had all the gold 
in the world, he would open his arms and 
spill it at the feet of the poor, the men 
hungering for beauty, the soul-starved. 
Oh! 

Humboldt : 
Go on. I like to hear you. We ^11 agree 
that Owen is the one perfect human flower. 



16 A FEEE UNION 

But he toileth not; neither doth he spin, 
and yet, low and vnlgar as it may be to 
observe such things, I have remarked that 
Owen dineth well. He wears good cloth- 
ing; he rides in taxicabs. How? Who 
puts up the filthy lucre? Somebody pays. 
There's a whole lot the matter with society 
but I guess the biggest wrong is done by 
the man who eats and sleeps and rides and 
wears good clothes for which he does not 
pay. Somehody always makes, and pays 
for everything. 

Sonia: 
(sipping her coffee) 
It would be useless to try to make you 
understand. You are merely jealous be- 
cause Owen admires me. You have the 
old dollar standard in your mind. You 
have never outgrown it. You measure 
Owen by the dollars be does not possess — 

(sarcastically) 
— like the butcher or the grocer. How 



A FREE UNION 17 

could I explain Art to you? But poetry, 
ideals, beauty, fveedom.— Owen has these 
things. 

Humboldt : 

(helping himself to the toast) 
You're damn right he has freedom. Non- 
paying freedom is all very nice for the man 
who enjoys it, but what about the man who 
does the paying? Wliat about mef Its all 
very fine for the man who can spend money 
he did not earn, drink where he does not 
pay, ride in cars he did not build; its 
mighty nice to be able to come into an- 
other man's room and be able to help your- 
self to his only decent suit of clothes, like 
Owen did to me ! But what about the man 
who does build the cars? Make the money 
and earn the clothes? 

SONIA : 

(with great exaltation) 
(still eating) 
But Owen does pay. He pays by his 



18 A FREE UNION 

presence, his inspiration, his poetry — his 
love of beauty. It is the grubbers, the 
diggers, the clods, like you, who would 
never get out of the mire if it were not for 
the men like Owen. Wliy, Owen— 

(she places her cup in her saucer and 
speaks deliberately ivith aive in her tones) 

Owen — walks — all night — sometimes — 
gazing at the stars! Owen— 

Humboldt : 
(interrupts in disgust) 
Because he hadn't a place to sleep. I 
know. 

(imitating her awe-filled tones) 
Wiry Owen spent his last dollar one 
night, when he didn't know where he was 
going to sleep — to— hear — Pagliacci. Art! 
Poetry! Ideals! What need have we of 
bath tubs, or soap, or beds or blankets 
when we can have these things ! 



A FREE UNION 19 

(changing his manner to imitate Owen's 
explosive sentences) 
Is it not so, my dear? 

SoNiA : 

You're jealous. You don't like me to go 
about with Owen and you never have. You 
want to shut me up like a husband locks 
up a wife, and make me your slave. But 
you cannot. 

Humboldt : 

Shut you up! Who! Me! Never! Owen 
is in love with you and you care more for 
him than you do for me. Exit happy little 
me. I'm sick of this — 

(sneering) 
''free" atmosphere where a man can't 
even call his shirt his own; where he has 
to stay up all night getting up ''free" 
lunches for the friends of his Lady Fair; 
where I have to give up serious, decent at-, 
tempts at painting to portray ladies in silk 



20 A FREE UNION 

underwear, at $60 a week to make money 
enough to buy other peoples' freedom. 
I'm done. Get that? I'm through. I'm 
going to move to-day and permit you and 
Owen to be just as free as you can. 

SoNiA : 

(alarmed, rising and throwing her arms 

about his neck) 

(wheedlingly) 

That's a naughty way to talk, Honeybun. 

You wouldn't leave your little baby girl; 

would you? You know she loves you more 

than anybody else. Nobody is so nice as 

my old Scoldy-patch when he wants to be 

nice. 

Humboldt : 

(waving her aside) 

Listen, Sonia. I'll never get anywhere 

leading this sort of a life. I've got to get 

off by myself where I can have rest and 

quiet to get anything done or get any- 



A FREE UNION 21 

where with my work. In the past year 
when we have been together, I have not 
produced one good thing. I'm growing 
stale. I'm losing the little ability I once 
had. Bed at two or three o'clock; folks 
coming in at all hours to be fed; rising at 
one o'clock to breakfast at two— with Owen 
or somebody else — I can't stand it. We 
just go over the same round— day after 
day. 

SONIA : 

(laying her head on his coat sleeve) 
Jimmie, dear, kiss me and stop that old 
crossy-talk. I'll fix up a place where you 
can paint in the kitchenette, over the gas 
stove, (pause) If you don't be a good 
boy, I'll run away with Owen, and then 
you'll be such a sorry one! 

Humboldt : 

(suhmittinq to her carr esses unwillingly, 
hut still submitting unbendingly) 



22 A FREE UNION 

Where's this affair between you and 
Ovren going to end anyway! 

SONIA : 

(pensively) 
I don't know, Jimmie. 

Humboldt : 
You're in love with eaeli other. I saw 
liim kissing you in the hall last night. Why 
not own up? 

Sonia: 
(with spirit) 
Because it isn't true. We're only 
friends. 

Humboldt : 

But how is it going to end? If you do 
fall in love with Owen, what then? 

Sonia : 
(defiantly) 
Well, you shall not keep me locked up in 



A FREE UNION 23 

a prison. I mean to groiv. That's what 
we believe in; isn't it? In growing, in 
turning our souls toward the light, in ex- 
panding, in seeking truth and love and 
beauty and inspiration no matter who may 
be hurt or where it may lead? 

Humboldt : 

And if a woman finds a new love— a new 
mate, she leaves the old one like a piece 
of cast-off clothing. Yes, that's the theory. 
And what about the one who is left behind, 
Sonia! 

SONIA : 

I never said I was going to leave you. 
I'm not. 

Humboldt : 

(arranging a silk kimona over the back of 
a chair and getting out his pens and ink for 
sketching) 
But if tlie I.idit, or the Truth or the 



24 A FREE UNION 

other man or woman come along, we for- 
sake the outgrown (the old) and cling to 
the new for the benefit of onr sonls. That^s 
right; isn't it, Sonia? 

Sonia: 
(defiantly) 
Yes, that is it. And if you keep on being 
as small and petty and stingy and 
domineering as you have been the past 
two months, it will not be long, either. 
I'll love fifty men if I want to. I've loved 
men before I met you, and you will not be 
the last if you take that tack, so you may 
as well stop trying to curtail my freedom 
right now. 

Humboldt : 
(continuing to draw) 
Oh! Is that so? Well, Sonia, does the 
same rule apply to women as to men? 

Sonia: 
Just like a conservative! Of course! 



A FREE UNION 25 

Humboldt : 

And does tlie same rnle apply to men 
as to women? 

(Sonia looks up quicldy and with some 
suspicion) (slowly) 

SoNiA : 
Yes. Wliy? 

Humboldt : 

I just wanted to make sure. 

(a knock is heard at the door) 

Sonia : 

(calls) 

Come in. 

(Owen bursts into the room, beaming upon 

the world in general. He kisses Sonia^s 

hand gallantly) 

Owen: 
How lovely you are this morning! 



26 A FEEE UNION 

Humboldt : 

(continuing to draw) 

Afternoon, yon mean, my dear Owen. 

(Humboldt, glacing at Sonia — ) 

(to Owen) 

Have you had breakfast? 

Owen : 

(making JiiHiself at home, puts gloves, 

stick and hat on rack) 

With Mrs. Endicott, Jim. Bnt I'll have 
a bit of grape frnit, T think. 
(Oiven disappears into the kitchenette 
where he procures grape fruit and with it 
returns to the studio and living room. 
Seats himself at the table from which the 
fruit dish has not been removed) 

SoNiA : 

I'll be ready in five minutes, Owen. Just 
make yourself at home. 
(Owen eats his grape fruit ivith gusto. 



A FREE UNION 27 

Jim draws and Sonia disappears into the 

bed room. Owen looks over the fruit and 

puts an orange into the right hand pocket 

of his coat) 

Owen: 
The fooJ laundryman forgot to deliver 
my duds, Jim. Guess I'll have to borrow 
one of your collars. 

Humboldt : 
Do. Anything I have is yours, you know. 

Owen: 

(continues to eat) 
Thanks. 
(examines the apples on the table and hav- 
ing finally satisfied himself as to the 
largest, puts it into left pocket of his coat) 

What's the good word, Jim! What are 
you sketching! Kimonas! Humph! Don't 
think I'd be interested. Too fond of Art, 
vou know. 



28 A FREE UNION 

(Owen picks his teeth leisurely) 
Owen : 
I remember one time when I was in 
Paris I grew so absorbed in one of Cazin's 
canvasses that I forgot all about lunch and 
dinner. Didn't eat a bite all day. In the 
clouds — Oh! (dreamily) The wonderful 
haze and those purple mists of Cazin ! 

Humboldt : 

You must have been enraptured. 

(Owen goes straight to a collar box on 

the hook case and takes out a clean collar 

which he proceeds to put on) 

Owen: 
Yes; yes. Art is the essence of Life. 
In fact— 
(with great solemnity as he struggles with 

his collar button) 
Jim, the real artist lives only for Art's 
sake. Art! Poetry! Love! Freedom! 



A FREE UNION 29 

SONIA : 

(appears drawing on her gloves) 
Come on, Owen, or we ^11 be late. 
(Owen gives himself a last approving 
glance in the mirror and takes hat, gloves 
and stick. He notices cigarette case. 
Pauses to open it and empty contents into 
his hand. He stops, considers a hit and 
decides to leave one for Humboldt. Places 
it back in the case and the case back on the 
book case) 

Owen: 
(to Sonia) 
I want to read you a little poem I dashed 
off last night, Sonia. 

(to Jim) 
Goodbye. 

(they hurry toward the door and go out 
together. Owen is heard saying — ) 
Owen: 
You remember that night we sat on the 



80 A FREE UNION 

beach and watched the sail boats coming 
into tlie harbor — 

SoNiA : 

(ronemhering to stick her head hack 

through the door, to call to Humboldt — ) 

Goodbye, Jimmie. Let the dishes stand 

if yon want to work. Back sometime. 

Humboldt : 
Goodbye. Don't hnrry. 

(Soma's head disappears and she and 

Given can he heard talking as they descend 

the stairs) 

(Humholdt lays down his work and sighs. 

does to hook case and opens cigarette case. 

Removes the one cigarette and lights it 

shaking his head and grinning) 

Humboldt : 
(aloud) 
Thank the Lord they're gone. Now V\\ 



A FREE UNION 31 

just lock the door to keep out any other 
visitors and get this — 

(locks door and glances at drawing) 
—damn petticoat and kimona sketch ready 
for the Journal. Then I'll pack up and 
light out. I've given her warning enough. 
She will not miss anything but the money, 
anyway, and I'll leave her half— 
(pulls hills out of pocket and, counts 

aloud- — ) 
Ten, 'leven, sixteen, seventeen, nineteen — 
(he stands a moment reckoning his liabil- 
ities and his assets. Then thrusts the 
money hack into his pocket and resumes 

his sketching) 
(a knock is heard at the door, and Hmn- 
holdt sits very quietly so the guest will de- 
part. The knock is repeated and a soft 
voice is heard asking some on in the hall: 

Jean Ward: 
Is this Mr. Humboldt's studio? 



32 A FEEE UNION 

(Humboldt leaps to his feet, turns the key 
and throws open the door) 

Humboldt : 

Why Jeanie Ward! What good wind 
blew you this way? 

(Humboldt takes her hand and draws her 
into the room) 

Jean: 

0, Jimmie, I have splendid news for you ! 
Mr. Prescott told me that Jack Linden 
wants you to illustrate his new Northern 
stories for the Century, in colors! So I 
looked you up. Isn't it great? 

Humboldt : 

Well, I should say it is! Come. Sit 
down and tell me all about it. 

Jean : 
(sits) 
Well, just for a minute. I slipped out 



A FEEE UNION 33 

of the studio without leaving any word, and 
I've piles of work. 

(she sees his easel) 
Jean : 
Drawing? May I see it? 
Humboldt : 
(greatly embarrassed) 
Of course. But it's awful. It's a petti- 
coat advertisement. I'm ashamed to have 
you know. But I had to do some of this 
stuff to keep the pot boiling. 

Jean : 

(shaking her head) (looking at picture) 
Well, you've got to stop it. It's a crying 
shame to see a man with your ability doing 
such things. 

(she sees a woman's hat hanging on the 
rack and looks at Humboldt) 

Jean : 
Are these your rooms, Jimmie? 



34 A FREE UNION 

(Humboldt follows her glance. He looks 

about the room to see if there is other 

evidence of the presence of Sonia. Sees 

nothing more) 

Humboldt : 
Yes, Jean. That hat belongs to one of 
my models. But let ns talk abont yon and 
me. 

Jean : 
But I mustn't stay. Do yon know. 
Jinmiie, I hate to think of you having 
models up here? 

(points to window) 

Jean : 
Ts that a balcony? 

Humboldt : 

Yes. Want to see it? 

(Jean walks to window and steps out. He 
follows her) 



A FREE UNION 35 

HUMBOUDT : 

I had flowers and vines growing there 
last spring. ■ 

Jean : 

(steps back into studio ivith Humboldt) 

It's nice, but there's no view and the 
light is not very good in here. If you take 
the Steiner studio, Jimmie — 

Humboldt : 

T mean to. I was going to pack up and 
move this afternoon. Will you pose for 
me sometimes over there! 

(Jean seats herself on couch) 

Jean : 
Of course. 

Humboldt : 

From now on I want to see you every 
day, dear. 



36 A FREE UNION 

(he sits beside her on couch and slips his 
arm around her waist) 

Humboldt : 
You know I've been frittering away my 
time long enough. 1 have wasted a whole 
year. But now, Jeanie dear, T have some- 
thing to strive for— I'm going to do noth- 
ing but good work, if it is in me, from 
now on. I am going to enter the contest 
for tlie grand prize. 

Jean : 

(looking up shyly) 

Tlie grand prize, Jimmie? 

Humboldt : 

Nothing less. Do you think I shall ever 
win it? 

Jean: 

(looking away) 
Am I the grand prize, Jimmie? 



A FEEE UNION 37 

Humboldt : 
The grandest prize of all. Do you think 
I shall ever be able to win her if I work 
very hard and save up enough money to 
furnish a nice little apartment for two? 
0, Jean ! 

(dra'ics her close to hhn) 
You are Snow White and Red Rose all 
in one ! 

Do you know that T love you, Dear 
Heart? 

(Jean lays her cheek against his cheek and 
slips her arm about his neck) 

Jean: 
I will come to you, Jimraie. 
(Humboldt puts his hand under her chin 
and tilts hack her head) 

Humboldt : 
And we'll be married and live in a 
beautiful little home made up of sunshine 



38 A FREE UNION 

and roses, of fresh air and fragrance, and 
love and work. my Jeai^ie ! 

(they kiss) 
(the door is here thrust violently open and 
Sonia hursts into the room like a March 
iririd. She pauses dramatically and sur- 
veys the pair in scorn. They ri^e hut staAid 
clinging to each other. Eumholdt raises 
his head defiantly) 

Son I A : 
(to Eumholdt) 
Who is this woman? I saw her on our 
balcony. TVlio is she? 

HtTMBOLDT : 

(taking Jecm's hand) 
Sonia, allow me to present my fiancee, 
Miss Jean Ward. 

(Jean half advances toward Soniu. Sonia, 
sneering, steps fonvard) 



A FREE UNION 39 

SoNiA : 

This is interesting. I am Jim's wife. 
Our wife and our sweetheart! How un- 
forunate that they should meet. 
(slie removes hat and walks familiarly into 

bedroom and throws it upon the bed) 

Jean : 

(gasping) 

Jimmie! You never told me you were 
married. 0, Jimmie! 

Humboldt : 

I'm not married. That's ens of h«r 
devilish lies to separate us. I never 
married anybody and the only woman in 
the world I want is you. 

SONlA : 

(returning, in an icy voice—) 

Legally, Miss Ward, I believe we would 
not be called married. We do not beliave 



40 A FREE UNION 

in conventional man-made laws. We are 
living together in a Free Union and have 
been, here in this house for a year now. 

(her rage flares up and she turns to Huni- 
holdt) 

SoNiA : 

you dog ! You brute ! To treat me in 
this way, when I've given up everything 
in this world for you; when I've made my- 
self your slave, believing that a spiritual 
union, a free union would hold you just as 
fast as the Law would. And you — 

(turning to Jean) 

AVhat do you mean by coming into another 
woman's home trying to steal her husband? 
Throwing yourself into his arms! 0! I 
respect the women of the streets more! 
You bold, shameless, indecent thing! A 
street-walker would have more self-re- 
spect ! 



A FREE UNION 41 

Humboldt : 

Sonia, you have said quite enougli. I 
will not have it! 

SoNiA : 
( IV ringing her hands) 

wonH you! She would. A street- 
walker would not stoop so low. you 
brute! You dog! You beast! 

(Sonia, to Jean, seizing a hair-hrush) 

>Vnd you. Get out of my house! Get 
out! Do you hear? And never let me see 
your face again. Get out! 

(Sonia goes fotvard Jean menacingly) 

Jean: 

(moving toward the door) 

1 think I'll be going, Jim. 

Humboldt : 

(getting between the two women and re- 



42 A FREE UNION 

ceiving a hloiv on the ann intended for 
Jean) 
No! No! Wait! 

(Hujnholdf holds Sonia who struggles 
f u ri II s ly ivit h hi m) 

Humboldt : 

(to Jean) 

You cannot go till I have explained. 

SoxiA : 
(frariticalhj si niggling, says to Jean) 
Get out, you prostitute! You cowardly 
sneak! You thief! Get out of my hous» 
before I kill you. 

(Hntyiholdt pushes her into a chair. She 
screams: — ) 

Sonia: 
Bog! 

(struggle) 
yo\i cui* ! 

(striiggle) 



A FREE UNION 43 

You brute ! To think that you should try 
to desert me— to think that you should 
bring a shameless woman into our home— 
to think — 

(sohs) 
Jimmie, Jimniie, send her away ! 
(Jean Ward stamds coldly at the door) 

Humboldt : 

(in tones of ioe) 

Listen, Sonia, I am going to marry Miss 
Ward, if she will have me after this scene. 
You may as well make up your mind to 
that. It is true that we have lived together 
here for a yeai*. I intended to move to- 
day. T told you that. . I have been tryimg 
to get away for two months. 

(to Jean) 

I'm only one of her many lovers, or so- 
called lovers. I was not the first by amy 
loeans. 



44 A FREE UNION 

SONIA : 

That's a lie! They are not my lovers! 

Humboldt : 
Over and OA^er again, Sonia, you have 
said these things yourself. You wanted to 
be free, to come and go when you would, 
love when you chose and whom you chose, 
and you have done these things. 
(Miss Ward turns toward the door uncer- 
tainly) 

SoNiA : 
(interrupting) 
She shall not have you. I won't give you 
up. It does not make any difference what 
I've done. I didn't. You belong to me! 
To iue, do you hear ? She shan 't have you ! 
Oh! Oh! Oh! 

(sohs) 

Humboldt : 
"Freedom"! That was your watch- 



A FREE UNION 45 

word. When I mentioned seeing Owen kiss 
you last night, and many other nights, you 
said you had a perfect right to kiss whom 
you chose. You said you would have fifty 
lovers if you wanted them, and leave me 
whenever you wished. 

(to Jean) 
She said we were not to hold each other 
when love was gone and one of us desired 
to be free. Each was to come and go as he 
chose. 

(to Sonia) 

xlnd you so chose every day during the 
past eight months. 

SoNiA : 
(Iialf in tears and half in anger) 
But 1 don't choose to go free now. I'm 
satisfied. I won't give you up. You belong 
to me. 

(growing hysterical) 
I'll never give you up! I'll never give 



46 A FEEli] UNION 

you up! I'll kill you first. Do you hear 
me? 

(to Jean) 

I'll kill him! I'll kill you hoth ! I'll 
throw myself into the river! 

(she continues to soh and ynumhle amd 

groan during the folloiving reply by Hiim- 

holdt) 

Humboldt : 

(to Jean) 

You see how deep her philosophy of 
Freedom goes. It applies to her, but not 
to me or anybody else. I am to be the 
slave I have always been the slave. 
Fjvery night her friends come up here and 
stay till two, or three and even four o'clock 
in the morning, drinking and eating, love- 
making and talking about re-building the 
world on a nobler, more poetic plan, their 
])lan. 



A FREE UNION 47 

(Jean has seated herself on the edge of a 
chair) 

Humboldt : 

We genera]]y rose at about one o'clock 
in the afternoon, when we were early. 
Soma's friends dro]3ped in for breakfast 
before two, and then her crowd of big 
talkers, talkers, talkers poured in and we 
would go over the same horrible thing 
again. I had not a comer in which to work 
in peace, and I paid the bills. 
(bitterly) 

That is why you found me sketching 
night gowns and lingerie to-day. 

(Sonia moams loudly) 

SONIA : 

Send her away, Jimmie. 0, I shall die! 
I'm sorry, Jimmie. I'll do better. I don't 
want anybody but you. 

(fiercely, to Jean) 



48 A FKEE UNION 

What are you waiting for where you are 
not wanted? Get out, I tell you. Go! 

Jean : 
(opens the door) 
Goodbye, Jimmie. 
(Humholt reaches for his hat, intending to 
accompany her, hut Sonia rushes between 
them; slams the door upon Jean and 
throws her arms around Humboldt's neck) 

Sonia: 
You shan't go! I won't give you up! 
you dog! You beast! you sneaking 
brute. You b&long to me, 1 tell you — to 
me— me — me! Do you hear? I'll kill you 
first! I want to die! 
(Humboldt struggles and releases him- 
self) 

Humboldt : 

Let go. Let me go. I don't want to 
hurt you. 



A FREE UNION 49 

SONIA : 

I '11 kill you ! I '11 kill yon both ! 
(strikes at him) 
(Humboldt coolly walks over and seats 
himself on the couch) 
Humboldt : 
What is it you want me to do ? 
Sonia: 
(weeping) 
Give her up. You must give her up. 
Yon belong to me. I won't give you up. 
(tries to throw herself into his arms) 

Jimmie, love me. Love me a little. 
Don't you love me any more? 

Humboldt : 
(coldly, hilt furiously) 

1 do not. I love Miss Ward and I intend 
to marry her if she will still have me. 

SONIA : 

(sarcastically) 
You never did understand the philosophy 



50 A FREE UNION 

of Freedom. It takes intelligence to grasp 
the idea. Brains ! 

Humboldt : 
T suppose yon understand it. IVe lived 
in its atmosphere here long enough to 
know that I don't want any more of it. 

SONIA : 

Owen always said you were unable to 
comprehend it in all its beauty, and — 

Humboldt : 
Go to Owen. AVhy don't you live with 
him. He wants you. You are perfectly 
suited to one another. Why have you not 
left me for Owen? I know. It's because 
he is too lazy to work, and so are you. 
You'd both rather endure me and share 
my earnings than work for yourselves. 
Freedom ! God ! I never want to hear the 
word again. 

SONIA : 

I knew it! You never understand. You 



A FEEE UNION 51 

think a woman should have no friends 
You want me to slave and slave and stay 
locked up alone like an ignorant, con- 
ventional husband wants his wife to do. 
Humboldt : 

T do not. I want you to come and go 
precisely as you wish— principally to go — 
the farther the better. You shall be free 
as the air for all I care. Only I want to be 
free to go myself. It'll be the first free 
moment I've had since I've known you. 
SoNiA : 
(sarcastically) 

He wants to get married! In order to 
be free he wants to be tied to a low-lived 
street-walker, who visits him in his rooms 
and throws herself into his arms when his 
wife is away. The dog! 

Humboldt : 
Stop that! Miss Ward came here to 
bring me a commission to paint the illus- 



52 A FEEE UNION 

trations for a new book. She's a perfectly 
respectable girl who works for her living. 

SONIA : 

Respectable? And coming up to make 
love to another woman's man in his rooms! 
Ha! Ha! That's a joke. 

Humboldt : 
(rising) 
I've had about enough from you, Sonia. 
I'm going to take a few of my things and 
get out. We'll never agree. 

SONIA : 

(sneering) 
Yes; do go. Get your clothes together 
and get out, notv, now; do you hear? I 
never want to see your sneaking, lying, 
ignorant, deceitful face again. You have 
no shame, no honor, no understanding — 
nothing. Gro. Get out, and the sooner the 
better. 



A FREE UNION 53 

Humboldt : 

(Humholdt goes to bedroom and reappears 
tvith shirts, collars, clothing and suit case) 

I will go and very thankful to get out of 
this atmosphere of intrigue and sponging. 
I hate this whole crowd of high-talking, do- 
nothing, muddled incompetents. I shall be 
free to go— 

(arranges his clothes in suit case) 

— to bed at ten o^clock instead of three. 
Free to get up in time to see the sun rise, 
if I want to. Free to spend my own earn- 
ings! 

(puts shirts into suit case) 

Free ! Free ! Free ! 

(Sonia lights a cigarette and smokes, sit- 
ting on the arm of a rocking chair) 

Sonia : 
I thought you were weary of "freedom". 



54 A FREE UNION 

Humboldt : 
I have not had any. Where's my other 

silk shirt? 

SoNiA : 
Owen borrowed it. Too bad; isn't. Such 
a crime! The gentleman will probably 
swea^' ont a warrant for his friend because 
his friend borrowed his little silk shirt. 

Humboldt : 
(folding underwear) 
That makes six he's borrowed, and kept. 
Well, here's one he averlooked. You might 
teil him to be more careful next time. 

SoNiA : 
You've a pair of sox in the drawer. 

( scarcastically ) 
The gentleman worships private prop- 
erty. He fairly dotes on owning things, 
and when he dies they will erect a tablet 
to his memor}^ bearing the inscription : 



A FREE UNION 55 

''He loved his little collars in their box, 

box, box, 
''And how he loved his pretty little sox, 

SOX, sox!" 

Humboldt : 
(packing) 
He does. When he buys clean hose and 
pays for them out of his hard earned 
money, he likes to be able to find them 
when needed. He don't like to steal them 
from other people — 

SONIA : 

(mockingly, lighting another cigarette) 
"Steal"! Ha! Ha! That's good. Now 
poor Owen, the notable poet, is a thief. 
His prospects are ruined. His future is 
gone. Hope is lost ! His reputation is 
blasted — He stole a pair of sox! 
Humboldt : 
(folding his ties) 
And four o-ood neck-ties, six silk shirts, 



56 A FEEE UNION 

most of my underwear, two suits of 
pajamas and my collars and gold cuff- 
links, my jade scarf pin— 
SoNiA : 
Your tooth brush f For God's sake, see 
if he left your tooth brush ! 

(aside to an imaginary servant) 
Hutchins, is Mr. Humboldt's tooth brush 
still reposing safely in the safe? It is? 
Very good. You may go, Hutchins. 

Humboldt : 
(ignoring her jibes, shuts and fastens suit 
case) 
Sonia, the rent for this apartment is 
paid up to the first — that's two weeks 
more. You may keep the furniture, but 
I'll send for my paints and drawing things. 
Scott owes me forty dollars. I'll give you 
half that as soon as I can collect and — 

(drawing hills from pocket) 
—Here's ten dollars. This will tide you 



A FREE UNION 57 

over till you make some other arrange- 
ment. 

Sonia: 

(springs to her feet and after snatching 
hill, throtvs it in his face) 

T don't want your dirty money. I want 
you. You shall not go one step. I won't 
let you go. You belong to me— to me ! Do 
you hear? You beast! You liar! You 
brute ! 

(rushes to door and lochs it, putting the 
hey into her pochet) 

you brute! You low brute! You 
think you can throw me over for that vile, 
ignorant cat; do you? You'll make me the 
laughingstock of our crowd; will you? I'll 
show you up with your silly pretensions to 
understanding Free Philosophy. Wanting 
to get married. Ha ! Ha ! 



58 A FREE UNION 

Humboldt : 

(sits on chair and puts his hag on the floor. 
He speaks very wearily) 

T don't care what you tell anybody. 
You Ve probably spoiled things for me with 
Miss Ward by your vulgar tirade. In 
Heaven's name, what do you want nowf 
Only five minutes ago you told me to get 
out; said you never wanted to see me 
again. Now you say you will not let me 
go. What in hell do you want? I don't 
want to be brut;al, you know. 

SONIA : 

(scarcastically) 
Ha ! Ha ! Listen to the charming young 
man. He doesn't want to be brutal. That's 
a joke. He doesn't want to be brutal; he 
wants to be married. Ha ! Ha ! 

Humboldt : 
Yes, I do want to be married. I want 



A FREE UNION 59 

to marry Miss Ward if she'll have me. 
A\^io's going to stop me! There's tomor- 
row, you know, and the day after. Yon 
can't keep me locked up here forever, you 
know. 

SONIA : 

Ho ! How clever you are. Who wants 
to marry you? Who wants a poor, pitiful, 
lying, sneaking beast like you when there 
are men in the world! Eugh! But Miss 
Ward shall not have you. I'll fix that vile 
eat. Wants to get married ; does he? 

(her voices rises in fury) 

Wants to be married? Well, I'll satisfy 
his craving. He shall have what he wants. 
I'll just put on my hat and walk straight 
down to a Justice of the Peace and marry 
him myself! This moment. Do you hear? 
You're going to marry me! 

Humboldt : 
But I don't want to marry you. 



60 A FREE UNION 

SONIA : 

(raging) 

But I want to marry you, and that set- 
tles it. I'll teach you to go flirting 
around with other women. I'll shotv you! 

(Humboldt sighs; shakes has head and 
looks around the room for some possible 
means of escape. Sonia trips into the bed- 
room where she is heard talking and sing- 
ing) 

SoNiA : 

(sings tivo lines to the tune of ^^Yum, 
Yum" in the Mikado) 
I'm going to be married! 
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! 

SONIA : 

(in a sarcastically hysterically voice) 

God bless our little home. I'll teach you 
to meet girls behind my back. 



A FREE UNION 61 

(Humboldt rises and goes very softly to 

the balcony ivith Ms bag. Sonia is heard 

talking to him frofn the bedroom) 

Sonia : 
How surprised Owen will be to hear of 
the wedding — and Redfield, and Harring- 
ton and Virginia. Who ever thought it of 
us ! 

(Humboldt pauses and looks around room. 

His eyes fall on the framed motto ivhich 

reads, 

"Peesonal Liberty 

IS 

God of this Shrine '^ 

(Hnmboldt pulls this down and places it in 

a conspicuous place on the library table) 

(Sonia, continues to talk to him from the 

bedroom) 

Sonia : 

How delighted Miss Ward will be; won^t 

she, dearie? Mrs. James K. Humboldt. 



62 A FREE UNION 

^Yhsit a charming name — and what a damn 
fool of a husband. Thought you'd fool 
me; didn't you? Well, I'll teach you a 
lesson. 

(Humboldt stealthily goes out on balcony; 

lifts out bag and drops it into the grass 

below. He lets himself over the railing and 

drops below noiselessly) 

SONIA : 

There shall be no more running around 
after street women, if I know it. 

(she enters room) 

All ready, darling! 

(she looks about room; rushes vnto 
kitchenette and bath room, callvng) 

Jimmie ! Jimmie ! 

(fiercely) 
Jim! 



A FREE UNION 63 

(fries door and finds it still locked. Rushes 

out onto balcony and sees him departing 

down the street. Hurries hack to living 

room) 

SONIA : 

you brute ! You beast ! You cowardly 
sneak! co think he should treat me in 
this way! She shall not have him! She 
shall not have him! I'll kill them both 
first! 

(she sees motto on table and reads aloud:) 
"Personal Liberty 

IS 

G^oD OF THIS Shrine'^ 

(throws book at the motto and bursts into 
tears) 

SONIA : 

I'll stop him! I'll stop him if it's the 
Ipst thing I ever do on earth ! 



64 A FEEE UNION 

(she rushes to door and unlocks it, mutter- 
ing; goes out into hall leaving door open. 
As she walks down the hall she can he 
heard moaning — ) 

the brute ! The cowardly brute ! She 
shall not liave him ! She shan't have him! 
I'll stop him! I'll- 

(end) 



